By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Since 1997, Zeeland Township has had its shared-use trail system maintained by neighboring Holland Township.
But now, Holland Township says Zeeland Township will need to increase its contribution in order to continue maintaining the nearly 19 miles of pathway that are in Zeeland Township.
Officials from the two townships have been meeting to discuss the trail maintenance program, and are hopeful they can work out an agreement. Zeeland Township Manager Josh Eggleston wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record that he hopes to have “something reasonable for both our respective boards to consider in relatively short order.”
Earlier this month, the Zeeland Township Board discussed the trail program and several potential solutions should the townships be unable to reach a new agreement.
Eggleston shared a memo with the board at its April 1 meeting on the status of the program. He wrote that late last year, Zeeland Township was informed by Holland Township that it no longer wanted to continue maintaining the trails. Not long after, though, Holland Township said it would reconsider, but that “the current cost model was no longer sustainable.”
“The amount that Holland Township has charged to Zeeland Charter Township has varied each year,” Eggleston wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “Some of the variations impacting this were staffing allocations, equipment purchases, equipment allocations, etc.”
Eggleston wrote that cost figure has been as high as $1,200 per mile, and last year’s figure was in the range of $800-$850 per mile.
Holland Township came up with an estimate for continuing the work, based on a study from several years back and adding in an inflationary factor and a 20 percent administration fee. The township gave Zeeland Township an estimate of $3,388 per mile, Eggleston wrote in his memo.
“Subsequent discussions have been held, and there is a willingness to see a reduction in that figure,” Eggleston wrote. “I have countered with a rate that reflects a number closer to the average I was able to derive and a reduction in the administrative charge to 5-10 percent rather than 20 percent.”
Eggleston presented several options to the board should the townships be unable to work out an agreement, including contracting maintenance work out to the private sector. Three companies provided quotes to Zeeland Township, with prices for summer maintenance ranging from $19,048 to $38,305, according to the memo.
Another possible option is having Zeeland Township perform the maintenance work in-house. However, that would require the township buying or leasing the needed equipment and hiring employees to do the work.
The township received a quote for the main piece of equipment for the maintenance work at around $100,000, plus another $10,000 for attachments to the equipment, Eggleston wrote in his memo.
Holland Township Director of Public Works Aaron Nyboer, who met with Eggleston on April 3, is optimistic the townships can work out a solution.
“We’re continuing to evaluate what makes sense for both Holland Township and Zeeland Township. We’re not looking to make money off of this, but we’re looking to cover our costs. (We want to) continue the relationship as we have for over 30 years,” Nyboer said.
Zeeland Record
Since 1997, Zeeland Township has had its shared-use trail system maintained by neighboring Holland Township.
But now, Holland Township says Zeeland Township will need to increase its contribution in order to continue maintaining the nearly 19 miles of pathway that are in Zeeland Township.
Officials from the two townships have been meeting to discuss the trail maintenance program, and are hopeful they can work out an agreement. Zeeland Township Manager Josh Eggleston wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record that he hopes to have “something reasonable for both our respective boards to consider in relatively short order.”
Earlier this month, the Zeeland Township Board discussed the trail program and several potential solutions should the townships be unable to reach a new agreement.
Eggleston shared a memo with the board at its April 1 meeting on the status of the program. He wrote that late last year, Zeeland Township was informed by Holland Township that it no longer wanted to continue maintaining the trails. Not long after, though, Holland Township said it would reconsider, but that “the current cost model was no longer sustainable.”
“The amount that Holland Township has charged to Zeeland Charter Township has varied each year,” Eggleston wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “Some of the variations impacting this were staffing allocations, equipment purchases, equipment allocations, etc.”
Eggleston wrote that cost figure has been as high as $1,200 per mile, and last year’s figure was in the range of $800-$850 per mile.
Holland Township came up with an estimate for continuing the work, based on a study from several years back and adding in an inflationary factor and a 20 percent administration fee. The township gave Zeeland Township an estimate of $3,388 per mile, Eggleston wrote in his memo.
“Subsequent discussions have been held, and there is a willingness to see a reduction in that figure,” Eggleston wrote. “I have countered with a rate that reflects a number closer to the average I was able to derive and a reduction in the administrative charge to 5-10 percent rather than 20 percent.”
Eggleston presented several options to the board should the townships be unable to work out an agreement, including contracting maintenance work out to the private sector. Three companies provided quotes to Zeeland Township, with prices for summer maintenance ranging from $19,048 to $38,305, according to the memo.
Another possible option is having Zeeland Township perform the maintenance work in-house. However, that would require the township buying or leasing the needed equipment and hiring employees to do the work.
The township received a quote for the main piece of equipment for the maintenance work at around $100,000, plus another $10,000 for attachments to the equipment, Eggleston wrote in his memo.
Holland Township Director of Public Works Aaron Nyboer, who met with Eggleston on April 3, is optimistic the townships can work out a solution.
“We’re continuing to evaluate what makes sense for both Holland Township and Zeeland Township. We’re not looking to make money off of this, but we’re looking to cover our costs. (We want to) continue the relationship as we have for over 30 years,” Nyboer said.
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